Agitator



L. A. JAMES June 27, 1939.

AGITATOR Filed April l, 1958 I NVENTOR Lew/s A. James Y E .N R O T T A AGITATQR Independence, Kans., assignor to Patented June 27, 1939 Lewis A. James,

PATENT 4,orrfl'cs 1` The James Washer Company, Inc., Independence, Kans., a corporation o! Kansas Application April 1, 1938, Serial No. 199,423

7 Claims.

This invention relates to washingA machines and more particularly to an oscillating agitator therefor of a typeconsisting of a bar movable in close proinmity to the bottom of the tub.

In machines of this type, the clothes or other articles work under the agitator and become caught. The clothes when thus caught are subject to wear and tear and may become so wedged that they often entirely block `movement of the agitator. Foreign objects, such as nails and the like, which have not been removed from the pockets of the garments are also apt to bet under the agitator and interfere with its operation.

It is', therefore, the principal objects of the presentinvention to provide an agitator of this character which is constructed to reduce tendency of the clothes and foreign objects to work thereunder; and to provide an agitator with flexible wings` or flanges that are yieldable to prevent wedging of objects such as nails, and the like thatmight accidentally nd their way into the washer.

Further objects of the invention are to provide an agitator with a blade or paddle extending at substantially right angles to the directional movement thereof; to provide the agitator `with means for supporting the flexible wings from scraping contact with the bottom of the tub; to provide an agitator constructed to form a pocket thereunder for trapping foreign objects; and to provide the Wings of the agitator with perforations so that washing fluid is flushed through the pocket.

In `accomplishing these and other objects of the invention,` as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a cross-section through a washing machine equipped with an agitator embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the agitator. Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the agitator, particularly illustrating support of the flexible wings which form a part of the agitator bar.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through one end of the agitator.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

l designates a. washing machine which includes a tub 2, having a substantially semicylindrical bottom 3 terminating in upwardly extending side walls 4 and 5 that are connected by end walls 5 to form a washing chamber l for containing a washing solution 8. The top oi the tub has an opening 9 but is normally' closed by a cover l0 seated upon an inset ange II extending inwardly about the perimeter ofthe tub as shown in Fig. 1. The tube as thus described is sup.-

ported on the usual legs I2.

Mounted within the washing chamber is an agitator I3 that is constructed in accordance with the present invention to include a bar or blade portion I4 extending longitudinally of the semicylindrical bottom and which has its ends supported by arms I5 and I6. `The arms I5 and I6 are preferably formed of flexible, slightly springlike material and have outwardly extending collars I1 and IB for shafts I9 that are oscillatably mounted in bearings 20 at the respective ends of the tub, the arms being kof sufficient length so that the blade portion of the agitator swings about the longitudinal axis of the tub and with their free ends slightly clearing the surface of the cylindrical bottom 3. v The free ends of the arms terminate in inwardly extending flanges 2l and 22 for forming stop shoulders arranged to support the ends of the flexible wings of the agitator blade so that it may not be sprung down by excess weight of clothes and not allowed to come in contact with the bottom of the tub, as now to be described.

The bar portion I4 of the agitator includes a T member 23, having a head ange 24 and a centrally arranged web 25, as best shown in Fig. 3. Fixed'to the ends of the T bar `are plates 2'I that are connected with the arms I5 and I5 by fastening devices, such as rivets or the like 29 to support the head flange of the T bar in upwardly spaced parallel relation with the flanges 2| and 22, and the`web'25 in a plane passing through the axis of the shafts` I9. The arms I5 and I5 are thus rigidly connected by the T bar but are adapted to yield to and from the end walls ofl the tubv by reason of the flexible material from which they are constructed. The web 25 forms an agitator blade for producing oscillating currents in the washing solution and to act as an elevator for alternately moving the clothes across thebottom of the tub and up the side walls thereof incidental to oscillation of the agitator.

Fixed to the ange head 24 is a sheet metal member 30, having a'flat, central portion 3l conforming in width to the head and which is secured thereto by fastening devices, such as screws 32. The member 30 also includes exible wings 33 and 34 terminating in lips 35 and 36 that are arranged so that the ends thereof seat directly upon the ends`of the stop flanges 2i and 22. The

lips are thus supported from being pressed by the clothes against the bottom of the tub, but the wings are adapted to yield away from the bottom of the tub in case clothes or foreign objects tend to wedge thereunder. In orderto stiil'en the lips Il and 2C, the edges thereof are bent retractively to provide a double thickness, as indicated at 31 and 2| and to present a smoothly rounded edge for contacting the articles being washed. 'Ihe wings 22 and ll are suiliciently rigid to maintain contact of the lips with their supporting flanges 2l and 22. 'Ihe wings 32 and 24 are preferably provided with a series of openings 40 and 4|, through which the washing solution is adapted to jet and for flushing the pocket 42 that is formed between the wings 33 and 34 and the tub bottom.

When the agitator is used on a power washer, one of the shafts I9 will be rigidly attached to its collar and the outer end thereof will be provided with a suitable actuator mechanism, such as a lever 43 or other means. In the case of a hand machine, other connections might be provided for eiecting oscillation of the agitator without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In operating a washer equipped with an agitator constructed in accordance with the present invention, a suitable quantity of Wash liquid is poured into the tub and the clothes or other articles are immersed in the solution. The agitator is then oscillated so that the bar portion thereof swings back and forth across the bottom of the tub, alternately propelling the clothes up one side wall and then the other. The clothes, upon being pushed up one side wall, drop back through the washing solution at the bottom of the tub and are then pushed by the agitator up the other side wall when it reverses its direction of movement. 'I'he clothes are thus in effect scooped from oil' the bottom of the tub during their movement by the agitator and any part thereof that might slip under the flexible lip on the side in the direction of movement cannot progress far enough thereunder to pass the opposite side by the time the agitator has reached the limit of its stroke. When the agitator approaches the top oi' its stroke that lip is carried away from the vertical wall portion of the tub so that the clothes are released to drop back over the agitator portion of the blade into the bottom of the tub. The clothes are, therefore, kept free and in a constant state of agitation and thoroughly circulated in the washing solution.

Should a button engage under one of the lips of the agitator as it is moving forwardly up a wall oi the tub, the flexible lip will yield sufciently to prevent pressure on the bottom of the tub that might tend to wear the garment. Usually this yielding tendency is sufficient, aided by resistance of the clothes, to allow withdrawal of the caught object, however, as soon as the agitator reaches the top of its stroke, the button or the like is ordinarily withdrawn as the space under the lip widens relatively to the side wall of the tub. Should a foreign object, such as a nail, engage under the agitator, with the agitator moving to the left, Fig. 1, the flexible wing yields upwardly so that it is impossible for the nail to wedge thereunder rand when the agitator reaches the top of its stroke the nail is loosened sumciently so that it will drop into the pocket formed under the agitator, as shown at 42, Fig. 1. The nail or the like will thus be freely retained in the pocket until removed, and is prevented from damaging the article being washed-or the machine, as would be the case if the nail wedged under the agitator to resist its movement.

From the foregoing it is obvious that buttons, buckles and the like iixed to the clothes, or foreign objects, cannot wedge under the agitator since they are readily releasable by reason of the ilexible wings. It is also obvious that the flexible wings are supported from scraping contact with the bottom o! the tub by means of the stop flanges 2| and 22 on the arms I5 and It. Should a garment tend to wedge between an end wall of the tub and one of the arms II or Ii. the garment will cause lateral shifting movement of the agitator away from the wall of the tub a sumcient distance to allow freedom of the garment. After the garment is freed the spring-like, ilexible material of the arms will return the agitator to its central oscillatory position within the tub.

Attention is also directed to the fact that the openings in the agitator wings not only create a jetting action of the washing solution, but they also provide for flushing of the pocket under the agitator to keep it in sanitary condition.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a washing machine, a tub having a substantially semicylindrical bottom, an agitator in cluding a bar, arms fixed to the ends of the bar and having inwardly extending stops spaced below the bar, exible agitator wings fixed to the bar and having portions engaging the stops, and means mounting the arms for oscillation about the axis of said semicylindrical bottom with the ilexible wings in slightly spaced relation with said bottom.

2. In a washing machine, a tub having a substantially semicylindrical bottom, an agitator including a bar, arms xed to the ends of the bar, means pivotally mounting the arms for oscillation about the axis of said semicylindrlcal bottom, ilexible wings diverging from opposite edges of the bar in the direction oi' said bottom; and means carried by said arms for supportlngly retaining the wings from scraping contact with the bottom of the tub.

3. In a washing machine, a tub having a substantially semicylindrical bottom, an agitator including a bar, arms xed to the ends of the bar, means pivotally mounting the arms for oscillation about the axis of said Semicylindrical bottom, perforate flexible wings diverging from opposite edges of the bar in the direction of said bottom, and means carried by said arms for supportingly retaining the wings from scraping contact with the bottom of the tub.

4. In a washing machine, a tub having a substantially semicylindrical bottom, an agitator including a bar, arms xed to the ends of the bar, means pivotally mounting the arms for oscillation about the axis of said semicylindrical bottom, flexible wings diverging from opposite edges of the bar in the direction of said bottom, and means carried by said arms for supportingly retaining the wings from scraping contact with the bottom of thc tub, said wings having suilicient yieldability away from said retaining means to prevent wedging of articles under the agitator.

5. In a washing machine, a tub having a substantially semicylindrical bottom, an agitator including a bar, arms fixed to the ends of the bar,

means pivotally mounting the arms for osci1la tion about the axis of said semicylindrical bottom, perforate iiexible wings diverging from opposite edges of the bar in the direction of said bottom, and means carried by said arms for supportingiy retaining the Wings from scraping contact with the bottom of the tub, said wings having sufficient yieldability away from said retaining means to prevent Wedging of articles under the agitator.

6. In a washing machine, a tub having a substantially semicylindrical bottom, an agitator inciuding a bar, iiexible arms xed to the ends of the bar and having inwardly extending stops spaced below the bar, flexible agitator wings fixed to the bar and having portions engaging the stops, and means pivotally mounting the arms for oscillation about the axis of said semicylindrical bottom with the iiexible wings in slightly spaced relation with said bottom.

7. In a washing machine, a. tub having a substantially semicylindrical bottom, an agitator including an inverted T-shaped bar, arms fixed to the ends of the bar, means pivotally mounting the arms for oscillation about the axis of said semicylindrical bottom and with the head flange of said bar supported in spaced relation with said 

